Current Vice President Christopher Emigholz has been tapped to fill the role, while the organization also announced elevations for two others in the department.

Though the Garden State has made gains, its overall regional ranking — and total points — dropped in this year's study. “There are still several indicators where New Jersey very much remains an outlier regionally and nationally — notably in business tax climate and net migration of first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates,” said New Jersey Business & Industry Association Director of Economic Policy Kyle Sullender.

“Let’s not forget that on Election Day, there was a strong message given to everybody that affordability was a big issue for New Jersey,” Tom Bracken, who heads the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said during a press conference hosted by his organization, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses on Dec. 14.

“There were announcements of programs made, but we don’t have transparency to where that money is out on the street yet,” Michele Siekerka, who heads the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, told NJBIZ following a Nov. 16 panel at the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.

The president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association talks about what the organization characterizes as a hiring crisis, the factors that created it and how businesses will have to change to meet the challenge.

“Being open 100% means absolutely nothing without a workforce of 100%,” said Michele Siekerka, head of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

Alexis Bailey comes on as director of the department, where she will work alongside other known presences in New Jersey politics: Chief Government Affairs Officer Chrissy Buteas and Vice Presidents of Government Affairs Ray Cantor and Christopher Emigholz.